How non-violent measures by Indian Army are keeping the Naga rebels at bay

The Indian Army is all set to deal with any violence undertaken by the Myanmar based Naga separatist faction. “This time we will deal with the rebels quite differently,” said a top commander.

Lieutenant General, Bipin Rawat, is the commanding officer of the Indian Army’s Kohima-based 3 Corps, which is responsible for the counter-insurgency operations in Nagaland and other northeastern states. He said confidently, “The faction headed by Myanmarese Naga rebel leader S.S. Khaplang can’t do much because it lacks popular support.”

The people in Nagaland have got used to the idea of peace dividends for the last 17 years and any rebellion is not well received by the common people. Military operations affect the normal lives of people and so Khaplang stands isolated, said Lt. Gen Rawat to IANS.

“Other Naga rebel factions and extremist political groups have no stomach for fresh violence, as they have got used to peace. So, they are determined to keep his fighters out of Nagaland,” Lt. Gen. Rawat said.

Khalpang, on the other hand, claimed that Indian intelligence is using other Naga rebel factions because they have given up the demand for the Naga Independence.

Lt. Gen Rawat said, “The locals are supporting us because Khaplang has violated the ceasefire before by assailing the Indian troops and killing 8 of them in the Mon district. The Indian army restrained the troops and owing to it, there was no backlash from the common people.”

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said no power in the world can take Kashmir away from India and if need be forced can cross the border to protect the country’s territorial integrity.

“Kashmir is, was and will be ours always. No one can take it from us,” Rajnath Singh said, addressing the CNN News18 Rising India Summit.

Rajnath praises indian army for its services.

He praised the Indian Army for its valour to secure the country and warned Pakistan, saying “we not only secure India within but can also cross the border to protect the country, if needed. No one should take it otherwise.”

He said India wanted good ties with Pakistan, provided it stopped aiding terrorists.

“Now the US is condemning Pakistan. I don’t know what happened to Pakistan. We want good relations with Pakistan but it has refused to accept our offer of friendship.

“Pakistan is giving legitimacy to UN-designated terrorist Hafiz Saeed who is establishing a political party there and wants to contest in elections.”

The Minister said the government was keen on finding a permanent solution to the Kashmir problem and was open to speak to anyone.

To resolve the Kashmir issue, Rajnath Singh said, the government-appointed interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma, a former Intelligence Bureau chief, is moving forward and has invited people from all sections for talks.

Kashmir is ours and ours only, says Rajnath. delhinewsagency.com

He said Kashmir’s children were like his own and would not allow anyone brainwash them into radicalisation.

“I want to tell those who are trying to teach jihad to innocent Kashmiri youths that they should first learn the real concept of jihad in Islam.”

The Minister said he had personally asked Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to ignore cases filed against the first-time stone-pelters.

Earlier in 2018, the Jammu and Kashmir government withdrew cases registered against 9,730 people involved in stone-pelting incidents, including first-time offenders.

“We have forgiven first-time stone-pelters. They might have been influenced by others. They are young. We need to give them a second chance,” he said.

The Home Minister said the government never differentiated between the children in Kashmir and those in the other parts of the country.

On the issue of terrorism, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has succeeded in getting global consensus and managed to bring the international community on board. Rajnath Singh also highlighted the government’s efforts in dealing with Maoists.

Anything to protect Kashmir: Home minister, Rajnath.

“The battle against Naxals can’t be won through bullets. We are taking several developmental initiatives in this direction. We are trying to reach those areas which have remained unreachable since independence.

“Naxalism was a huge problem for India but in the last four years we have now achieved major success in that space.”